Ipswich retain South East div 1 and 2 titles

Harford Park was the venue for the Ipswich Eagles’ last league fixture of the 2013 campaign and they went into this match looking to maintain their unbeaten record.

Straight from the first heat Ipswich were in no mood to relinquish their unbeaten tag and handed a lesson to a spirited Norwich team who are in the process of rebuilding for the coming years with the likes of Alex Dyball, Jamie Medler and Dan Margiston being the core to build a team around.

As for the Suffolk-based outfit, they seem to be going from strength to strength.  For the seventh time this season they amassed another hundred plus points haul, only dropping five points over the 18 heats.  It was another all-round display from the champions with an Ipswich rider crossing the line in first place in all eighteen heats.

There were pleasing displays from Fraser Harris who scored his best return this season in an SE1 fixture and can look to build on his performance  for next season.  With the average age about 16 years, this must be the youngest team ever to have  won the South East Division One title.

Norwich 55

Dan Margiston 9, Alex Dyball 8, Jamie Medler 8, Chris Cullum 7, Paddy Wenn 7, Toby Sands 6, Rohan Ewbank 6, Mason Parkins 4

Ipswich  121

Dan Knights 19, Jamie Chittock 19, Richard Fellgett 16, Matt Hill 14, Fraser Harris 14, Charlie Rumbold 14, Ashley Hill 14, Lewis Roberts 11

Referee: Dave Hill (Suffolk)

South east Div 2

Much like the first team Ipswich were looking to round off their campaign on a high note and stay unbeaten this season as well as continuing to bring their younger riders through the growing ranks of young talent available to the Suffolk club while continuing their learning process in team racing.

Much like the first match again, it was a bit of a mis-match as a contest but as stated earlier, Norwich are in a rebuilding programme.  Under the watchful eye of Gary Colby and the likes of Paddy Wenn, they will in time start to reap the rewards of hard work which is the key to success on and off the track.  It was only a few years ago that Ipswich were in a similar position and know all too well what it is like to be on the receiving end of a big score line against them.

Ipswich are still looking to build.  With the likes of the Harvey brothers, Ben and Alex, and other youngsters all knocking for a chance to represent their club at this level, the future does look bright indeed. Congratulations to Les Fellgett and his squad on retaining the South East Two for a fourth year in a row.

Norwich 53

Rohan Ewbank 12, Alex Dyball 9, Dan Margiston 8, Mason Parkins 6, Owen Wells 5, Mia Sands 5, Kieran Wenn 4, Jamie Medler 4

Ipswich 106

Ben Harvey 24, Richard Fellgett 17, Alex Harvey 16, Dan Knights 15, Lauren Jacobs 14 , Fraser Harris 11, Matt Hill 9

Also congratulations to the first team, who have supported Tony Stant all season, on retaining their title for a third year, believed to be the first time it has been achieved in the region since the South East league was set up.